Past EC among those, who destroyed democracy: Rizvi

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the just-resigned Election Commission (EC) was among those, who destroyed the country's democracy.
"The Election Commission was one of them, who were responsible for destroying democracy in the country," he said at a press briefing in the BNP headquarters at Naya Paltan in the capital on Thursday.
Agriculturists Association of Bangladesh (AAB) organised the press briefing, protesting against news aired in a private television channel.
Pointing finger at the immediate-past chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal, Mr Rizvi said, "You alone announced the election results, marked with vote riggings and usurpation. Why didn't you tender your resignation? You considered your job bigger than the country's people and democracy."
"Those who were responsible for violating the constitutional system should be brought to justice. They should be put on the dock."
"The monster-like fascist Sheikh Hasina government was ousted following a movement of children, students and people. BNP, 20-party alliance and like-minded political parties had continued the anti-Hasina movement for the last 16 years. It's the background. The downfall of Hasina on 5th August took place due to it."
The BNP leader also said making any compromise with the collaborators of the fallen autocratic regime means committing betrayal against the martyred persons' blood.
"BNP is such a party that has close links with the country's independence and democracy. We have respect for the people of all faiths."
"The leaders of a political party, which has a track record of making compromise, are now talking about offering pardon (to the immediate-past government). What's forgiveness to the mass killers? The ghost of Sheikh Hasina still remains at the offices."
He opined that the mass killers (of Awami League) and members of the law-enforcing agencies, responsible for the killings of children, students and people, must be brought to the book and tried.
Rizvi noted that it has come to the people's notice that the supporters of a particular group are now being appointed to various posts of the educational institutions.
He further said the Awami League established one-party BAKSAL rule in the country in 1974, and then all newspapers were closed expect four.
Fascist Sheikh Hasina reintroduced BAKSAL in different shapes. The previous government shut down the channels and newspapers like Diganta tv, Islamic tv, Daily Amar Desh and Daily Dinkal. Awami League gave ownership of television channels to the people loyal to the party.
"The prime task of mass media is to unearth truth and publish constructive and authentic news. Mass media plays a significant role in maintaining stability in a democratic country. A free and independent mass media is one of the major ways to flourish democracy."
"Its violation doesn't mean democracy. In that case, media is treated as a propaganda machine," he added.
Agriculturist Shamimur Rahman Shamim said, "In my life, I've never been engaged in activities like usurpation. I'm doing politics honestly. But a media outlet aired false news against me. The collaborators of fascist Hasina - Abdur Razzaque and Bahauddin Nasim - turned the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) into a place of extortion and usurpation."

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